USA -- low budget repatriation specific locations that aren't horrible

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, meechai said:

Not to criticize you but You started this thread nearly 3 years ago

About a year after you started it we sold out business & home in Thailand & moved back to the US

 

We have a home & are settled nicely now but for you I would say the one thing about waiting too long in Thailand is that it does not get easier

due to age to move nor does it get cheaper to live back in the USA as time passes you by.

 

Just look at the differences since you started the thread & today.

It was a task yes but we are glad we did not leave it any longer than we already did.

Reading many of your other posts I would also say your fears about medical are out of proportion

It is quite easy ^ depending on your income there are always options. But I do not want to get into all of that.

 

Good Luck to you & I hope 3 more years from now your not still analyzing as it will truly be paralyzed by then

 

That's all well and good, but since I started this thread there was a VERY surprising election, and my previous plan for access to health care is under direct threat.

I have covered that already on this thread. I don't expect anyone to read the entire thread though of course!
So I have already changed my plan contingent on political developments (repeal and replace stuff) to probably either wait until 65 to repatriate (yes I am well aware, older the harder but without medical care for chronic conditions I'm dead anyway) or NEVER repatriate. 

Cheers. 

[craigt3365]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

That's all well and good, but since I started this thread there was a VERY surprising election, and my previous plan for access to health care is under direct threat.

I have covered that already on this thread. I don't expect anyone to read the entire thread though of course!
So I have already changed my plan contingent on political developments (repeal and replace stuff) to probably either wait until 65 to repatriate (yes I am well aware, older the harder but without medical care for chronic conditions I'm dead anyway) or NEVER repatriate. 

Cheers. 

The potential changes in health care plans has altered my plans also.  I'm in a wait and see mode now....sadly....

[Jingthing]

To add, from the beginning of this thread and continuing, the discussion about low budget repatriation destinations in the USA is not ONLY about me. It's for everyone that's interested. That includes Americans reading the forum that are still deciding about retirement abroad, to Thailand, to a third country, or maybe a relocation in the USA. 

Edited July 15, 2017 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

The potential changes in health care plans has altered my plans also.  I'm in a wait and see mode now....sadly....

It's more common than people think.

I personally think there is probably a spike now in Americans age 55 to 65 considering moving abroad for medical care access alone. People in that age group quite often lose their employment marketability for good, so it can be a survival tactic. 

As a rough estimate, if I had to pay RETAIL in the USA for the very common medications I take, could be well over 1000 dollars a month not counting the required doctor visits to keep getting scrips. In Thailand, about 100 dollars. No scrips needed.

It's not only starving people in Africa that migrate for economic reasons. 

Edited July 15, 2017 by Jingthing

[meechai]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

(yes I am well aware, older the harder but without medical care for chronic conditions I'm dead anyway) or NEVER repatriate. 

Well you can believe what you want but truth is you will always be taken care

In fact the truth of the matter is if you have no income you do not even pay for insurance

Trust me I know

 

A little over a year ago we moved back & have not paid a penny since

Free medical including any drugs

Even my wife's monthly birth control is free

 

We actually wanted to buy but without income they actually will not even sell us any

But the free medical is excellent & drugs included

Even dental except Dental is on a sliding scale for a small co-payment but again based on "Income" free

if your income is zero

 

Since we have been back I have had complete blood work panels done just to check & also a couple filings at the dentist.

Funny I should say re-fillings as these were previously done in Thailand but never held up

 

So what I am saying is do not read too much into the hype of the press or hysterics put there just to cause hysterics.

We have been home a year & can say it is all fine & well. We do not watch TV so do not even know or care what is going on

in Washington. I am sure it is the same mess it always was regardless of what team is in place.

 

But I am telling you your fear of not getting treatment or drugs if your a US citizen in the US is simply not true

Hear me or not that is your choice but this is our experience this last 1+ year after returning home.

We have money trust me. We sold out home & business in Thailand

They see our money as I never hid it but they are only interested in income.

 

We will open a new business here soon as the business climate is healthy

at that point we will buy insurance for approx $5-600 a month & be well covered ( a married couple) for medical & drugs

(but even this has adjustments based on income My brother pays $200 for his wife & him based on his pensions)

But for now ours is free with no limit in sight as we just simply renewed last month for another year,

 

Good Luck & hope you find what your looking for. Thailand is nice too & we will maybe go back to visit

in a year or two but for now this is better all around

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2017 by meechai

[Jingthing]

Well you can believe what you want but truth is you will always be taken care In fact the truth of the matter is if you have no income you do not even pay for insurance Trust me I know

 

A little over a year ago we moved back & have not paid a penny since

Free medical including any drugs

Even my wife's monthly birth control is free

 

We actually wanted to buy but without income they actually will not even sell us any

But the free medical is excellent & drugs included

Even dental except Dental is on a sliding scale for a small co-payment but again based on "Income" free

if your income is zero

 

Since we have been back I have had complete blood work panels done just to check & also a couple filings at the dentist.

Funny I should say re-fillings as these were previously done in Thailand but never held up

 

So what I am saying is do not read too much into the hype of the press or hysterics put there just to cause hysterics.

We have been home a year & can say it is all fine & well. We do not watch TV so do not even know or care what is going on

in Washington. I am sure it is the same mess it always was regardless of what team is in place.

 

But I am telling you your fear of not getting treatment or drugs if your a US citizen in the US is simply not true

Hear me or not that is your choice but this is our experience this last 1+ year after returning home.

We have money trust me. We sold out home & business in Thailand

They see our money as I never hid it but they are only interested in income.

 

We will open a new business here soon as the business climate is healthy

at that point we will buy insurance for approx $5-600 a month & be well covered ( a married couple) for medical & drugs

(but even this has adjustments based on income My brother pays $200 for his wife & him based on his pensions)

But for now ours is free with no limit in sight as we just simply renewed last month for another year,

 

Good Luck & hope you find what your looking for. Thailand is nice too & we will maybe go back to visit

in a year or two but for now this is better all around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is getting too granular into the health care access situation. There are some low cost clinics for the uninsured but they are limited.

You don't sound like you have multiple chronic conditions requiring what are there expensive meds for life so that might work for you at least temporarily.

Living in the ER where they have to take acute cases isn't a good lifestyle choice either.

Traditional Medicaid requires almost no assets and often is only for single women and children.

Expanded Medicaid is only on offer in some states.

ACA subsidies for insurance purchases don't exist at all under a certain income level. The ACA plan was for those people under to be covered by expanded Medicaid but then the Supreme Court ruled that states could opt out and many did.

The republican proposals involve completely ending expanded Medicaid, limiting funding for traditional Medicaid, and changing the structure of the private insurance subsidies hitting older people under 65 with chronic conditions the hardest.

Well that's my situation. Older but under 65 with multiple chronic conditions. So excuse me I still think it's logical to wait out to see what the changes will be before making a potentially self destructive move.

But thanks for your story and happy to hear things are working out well with your repatriation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kim1950]

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah, OK, but this thread is limited to discussion of USA destinations. There have been other threads on Thaivisa about third country not Thailand options though. None currently active but you could search. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2017/04/20/the-best-places-to-retire-in-2017/#5948e4f7f3ad

 

Try this reading, US only, segmented by many variables. Depending, my preference would not require a car, extended transit systems, rent a car if necessary, and bike until I drop. Also services other than Medicare, for the elderly are more specific by the town, not state. Mobile homes are now modular homes. Good deals there. You figure the land.

 

Of course money changes things, if I had more, and things had been different, I would stay living in Metro-Boston. Four sessions, mountains, ocean, history, free college for the retired, great social centers for the elderly, Southeast Asian and other cultural communites. Great Pho. Easy to pick-up work for extra money.  There's only two ways to live, here, either have money or no money. That's the way of the Great Blue State.

[Jingthing]

Thanks for that. Definitely an interesting list. None of those choices scream out to me MOVE THERE, but worth a closer look at some of those places. I like the way they describe the pros and cons. Very useful format. 

 

Right now internet checking out Port Charlotte Florida which I never heard of before. 

Edited July 15, 2017 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Port Charlotte Florida seems ideal if you're into boating. I'm not. Probably too boring for me the housing stock is about single family homes.

[observer90210]

One thing for sure is that you won't get ripped off any more with farang prices, no more thai taxi cheats who refuse to turn on the meter and no more corrupt officials asking for tea money....pity as Thailand is a lovely country with amazing people!!!

[Jingthing]

One thing for sure is that you won't get ripped off any more with farang prices, no more thai taxi cheats who refuse to turn on the meter and no more corrupt officials asking for tea money....pity as Thailand is a lovely country with amazing people!!!

Granted somewhat but there are always pros and cons such as 15 dollar Pad Thais. Fixed prices though! Yippee.

 

 

 

 

[Kim1950]

50 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Granted somewhat but there are always pros and cons such as 15 dollar Pad Thais. Fixed prices though! Yippee.

 

 

 

 

Lowell, Ma. Beef Ball Pho $9.USD. Chicken Pad Thai $12.00 USD. After the war many Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnam Refugees settled in Lowell, MA. Now, it's a thriving city. For a time, the city was worn down. Some sections better than others. Though many were very enterprising. 

[Jingthing]

Lowell, Ma. Beef Ball Pho $9.USD. Chicken Pad Thai $12.00 USD. After the war many Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnam Refugees settled in Lowell, MA. Now, it's a thriving city. For a time, the city was worn down. Some sections better than others. Though many were very enterprising. 

Yes of course. Just giving a random example. Prices vary. Lowell no thanks as an alluring retirement destination.

[observer90210]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Granted somewhat but there are always pros and cons such as 15 dollar Pad Thais. Fixed prices though! Yippee.

 

 

 

 

Lucky you...here in Europe no dish available less then 20 $!..

[meechai]

17 hours ago, Jingthing said:

This is getting too granular into the health care access situation. There are some low cost clinics for the uninsured but they are limited.

You don't sound like you have multiple chronic conditions requiring what are there expensive meds for life so that might work for you at least temporarily.

Living in the ER where they have to take acute cases isn't a good lifestyle choice either.

 

But thanks for your story and happy to hear things are working out well with your repatriation.

Yes I agree "too granular" & that is why in post 991 I said
"Reading many of your other posts I would also say your fears about medical are out of proportion

It is quite easy ^ depending on your income there are always options. But I do not want to get into all of that."

 

But that aside yes I do not have multiple conditions as I have always kept in shape, but I know folks who do

One couple actually just back from Thailand & wife is HIV+ for many years.

They say they also have no problem & the one daily drug she gets here "free" is according to them

better than the 3 drugs she had to take in Thailand

 

Also I know others with High blood pressure/ High Cholesterol etc etc taking statins etc daily & one with a heart prob taking something daily

All on the free care ticket due to no or low income

BTW these folks do nothing once enrolled the drugs are mailed to them monthly

 

For my wife her monthly BC pills are picked up at Target. They send her a email & text message reminder each month, Simple really

 

You said "low cost clinics", but These are not low cost clinics but regular community health centers everywhere now

If you go they just do a basic screen then forward you to a specialist if needed at hospital, medical clinics etc.

After that you deal with that doctor directly not the health center

None of those I mentioned live in a ER 

 

But anyway, I just wanted to put that out there

Like I said in my post #991 I did not want to get into med benefits but you did reply with

that is the reason you & some like Craig postpone plans etc.

 

I am just posting this not so much for you or Craig, as reading back I think you folks

have many preconceived political based fears to sort out . So I cannot offer anything on that front

as we don't watch all that BS. Yes some may say head in the sand but who cares we're happy

 

I am posting it so others reading this thread know the facts, we here in the US

there are many many options. Those who have unfounded fears they will somehow not be treated are thinking of the wrong country.

That is actually true in Thailand if your a foreigner without adequate funds or insurance but it does not happen here in the USA for anyone

who cares to get up & look.

 

Good Luck to you too & truth is Thailand is a fine place for many & no problem with staying there if that is your choice &

if you can 100% pay your way etc if that is what anyone chooses.

 

We mainly came back after the Junta was entrenched 2 years & we

did not like what the future looked like there.

Edited July 16, 2017 by meechai

[Jingthing]

OK. Thanks for expressing your POV and fully appreciate it's about getting your POV to all readers here, not only a few.

 

Anyway , back to the focus on DESTINATIONS please.

 

[Jingthing]

Interesting list of "best cities" from wallethub --

 

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-large-cities-to-live-in/14358/

[Jingthing]

Storm / climate change issues in the Tampa / St Pete area.

 

Quote

 

Tampa Bay’s coming storm

The area is due for a major hurricane, and it is not prepared. If a big one scores a direct hit, the damage would likely surpass Katrina.

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/health/environment/tampa-bay-climate-change/

 

 

[Kim1950]

Years ago I dated a woman whose ex-husband, just up-and-left, and moved into an apartment near the University of Michigan. He said, he liked the collegiate scene. Free Lectures, Free all sorts of intellectual activities and venues. Joined different groups. Book clubs.  Things were cheap. I might better prefer University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but I did understand his choice of lifestyle.

[Jingthing]

Yes college towns have always been a draw for some retirees. There was some discussion here about Gainesville FL which is that and inland so less hurricane flooding worries.

[connda]

I'm thinking that buying a pickup with either a trailer or a camper.  Pick a place to reside, such as Texas.  No income tax.  But then travel.  You'll meet people and get to see parts of the country you may have never seen.  Want a change of scenery?  A 6 to 12 hour drive and you're somewhere completely different.  

Edited July 31, 2017 by connda

[Kim1950]

1 hour ago, connda said:

I'm thinking that buying a pickup with either a trailer or a camper.  Pick a place to reside, such as Texas.  No income tax.  But then travel.  You'll meet people and get to see parts of the country you may have never seen.  Want a change of scenery?  A 6 to 12 hour drive and you're somewhere completely different.  

You can also use a virtual mail address and mail forwarding service. You do your mail on-line and if necessary have it sent to you. With the trailer or camper you do need to plan your stops. Decent trailers aren't cheap. I am thinking about  this option.

[amvet]

Sunseekers Florida cheap RV park rental 28,000 baht a month. 

Ya you guys are hilarious.  Trade above for Thailand?  Ha ha ha.

[Jingthing]

Wallethub's list of best to worst U.S. cities to be a RENTER.

Definitely interesting. 

They have a formula for rating and price/value isn't the only factor, but it's definitely a factor.

Interesting that many of the places mentioned on this thread are high on the list.

And some very low as well.

Renting and buying are of course different. A place can be good value for buying but poor for renting and vice versa.

Notice so many in the top 20 in Arizona particularly the Phoenix area.

 

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-renters/23010/#main-findings

Edited July 31, 2017 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Any thoughts on these cities in Alabama?

 

Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile. 

[amvet]

I was an Innkeeper for a major hotel chain and Quit when they tried to transfer me to Alabama.  And if that wasn't enough my commanding officers in Vietnam were all from Alabama and that cemented by dislike for the place.  However if you like that kind of vibe might be a place to consider.  However they do have a nice battleship in Mobile.  

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, amvet said:

I was an Innkeeper for a major hotel chain and Quit when they tried to transfer me to Alabama.  And if that wasn't enough my commanding officers in Vietnam were all from Alabama and that cemented by dislike for the place.  However if you like that kind of vibe might be a place to consider.  However they do have a nice battleship in Mobile.  

I'm not a believer in the red state / blue state worldview. There are blue areas of red states and red areas in blue states. Atlanta is very blue. 

 

I viewed a video about Huntsville and they said a large portion of the people moving there are from Washington, D.C. (attracted to the housing prices?). 

 

Before here there were some posts about Gulfport, MS being an interesting place.

 

Just keeping an open mind as housing prices are rising, my realistic options if I repatriate may be narrowing. 

 

That said I know very little about Alabama except for the "redneck" stereotype. I drove through Birmingham once  which hardly counts. 

 

Montgomery might be interesting. Off the coast so don't have to worry about Gulf storms. 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Jingthing

[Kim1950]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I'm not a believer in the red state / blue state worldview. There are blue areas of red states and red areas in blue states. Atlanta is very blue. 

 

I viewed a video about Huntsville and they said a large portion of the people moving there are from Washington, D.C. (attracted to the housing prices?). 

 

Before here there were some posts about Gulfport, MS being an interesting place.

 

Just keeping an open mind as housing prices are rising, my realistic options if I repatriate may be narrowing. 

 

That said I know very little about Alabama except for the "redneck" stereotype. I drove through Birmingham once  which hardly counts. 

 

Montgomery might be interesting. Off the coast so don't have to worry about Gulf storms. 

The unfair advantage of owning property, even a mobile home or anything, is you can deduct your property taxes and mortgage interest. In a state like Massachusetts after 65 and if you own property you get further state tax relief. Typically, towns or cities with higher property taxes also have the better services for the elderly. That's the way it works. Even people who have paid down their mortgage, they are still stuck with  property taxes which in my case exceed my mortgage payments. However, then a good piece of that is still deductible, plus being over 65 I get the further state relief. Property anywhere in Massachusetts is steep, except for few older towns that are being gentrified by dual income younger professionals. The system favors capital investment, and keeping and growing the capital. There is a trend for older people, the half empty nesters, to rent out rooms, usually by referral or connections only.

[Jingthing]

I don't personally expect to be concerned about tax deductions but good points.

[Kim1950]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

 

Notice so many in the top 20 in Arizona particularly the Phoenix area.

 

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-renters/23010/#main-findings

Arizona \ Phoenix is spread-out, so most likely you need private transportation. I am surprised this is not factor in this discussion. So you might have low rent, then you need to factor the cost, maintenance, and insurance of a car.

 

"The average owner of a sedan has to shell out nearly $10,000 a year to own and operate that car, according to AAA".

 

For me, I would trade off the benefits of low rent vs a decent transit system. If I needed a get-a-away, I would rent a cheap car. Think about this, how many people in major cities even own cars, and let's tack on parking fees. This view of the world is driven by auto manufacturers. We all like to cowboy on demand, hit the road, but it isn't free. Wallet-up. Maybe you can't live the dream. By the size of today's SUV, you would think most of us love in the Alaska Tundra.